Neil Everett, who along with co-anchor Stan Verrett led ESPN’s long-awaited and much-anticipated invasion of Los Angeles in 2009, says his time at the network is already “in the rearview mirror” after a 23-year tenure. In”, which ended on Friday. “game Center.”
Everett spoke to KTLA’s “Frank Buckley Interviews” after his final show and reflected on highlights from his days with the world wide leader.
“That was the last TV interview I did with coach John Wooden,” Everett said. “I became friends with Bill Walton. I met my childhood idol, Jerry West. I introduced myself to Denzel Washington who then looked at me and said, ‘I know who you are, I see you every night!’ I talked about the story with Michael Keaton on set for 49 minutes…this will be an ‘SC’ record!’
In the interview you can watch in full above, Everett said, “When I see what I’ve been able to accomplish I feel like I’m living outside my body.”
The move to L.A. from ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, was a respite of three time zones for the 1 a.m. ET “SportsCenter” anchors and crew, as the show’s production began in a new newsroom and studio at L.A. Live in Downtown. The chemistry Everett had built with Verrett in Bristol only grew as they cemented their place in the pantheon of “SportsCenter” anchor pairs.
“I love that guy more than anyone else,” Everett told KTLA of Verrett. “We’ve had a great time together, and I’ll definitely miss her.”
During the interview, Buckley pulled out a surprising message from Verrett.
Verrett’s message read, “I wanted to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for your generosity, your support, your cooperation and your collaborative spirit during our 14 years anchoring ‘SportsCenter’ in Los Angeles.” “It was a blast every night. I will miss you very much as a co-anchor, but as a friend I will always remember you. Love you friend!”
Everett’s departure follows the exits of several other iconic ESPN anchors in recent years, most notably fellow Los Angeles veteran Kenny Mayne, who left after ESPN broke down contract talks with a low-ball offer.
For Everett, 61, the end of the road was which came first — the chicken or the egg?
When Everett was asked if his departure was part of Disney’s layoffs, he said, “It was time to go.” “If you jump off a cliff are you pushed or do you jump?”
But Everett said that while he “couldn’t be more excited about my past,” he is instead “thrilled” about the future, which includes more time with his wife, friends and family.
He said, “I feel great about it, you know the grass was growing under my feet.” “it’s time to move on.”
